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John Gould Oyster Catcher, Haematopus longirostris bird print.

John Gould Oyster Catcher, Haematopus longirostris bird print.

by Gould, John

John Gould White-breasted Oyster Catcher or Long-billed Oyster-Catcher.

Lansdowne reproduction (of 500) from a hand-coloured lithograph by John Gould and Henry Constantine Richter for The Birds of Australia by John Gould, published in London between 1840 and 1848.

Known as 'the Bird Man', John Gould was a naturalist whose passion was the field of ornithology. With business acumen and an excellent eye for detail, he obtained wealthy subscribers and employed and monitored the work of fine lithographers including his artist wife Elizabeth. John Gould published grand works illustrated by large hand-coloured lithographs, including some of the finest ever done.

While most people have heard of John Gould, many do not know that his wife Elizabeth was trained in lithography by the great bird artist Edward Lear, who was a scientific artist at the Zoological Museum where John Gould was curator of birds. Elizabeth Gould refined her husband's field sketches for lithographs, and completed over 600 lithographs for her husband's grand publications - until she died after the birth of their eighth child. Edward Lear completed her unfinished work.

In good condition, approximately 53 x 35cm (21 x 14 inches), the paper is not as thick as the original lithographs were, and the ink colours do not have the same longevity as early colour. We recommend framing with conservation material and U/V protective glass.

Stock Number: daJGL440.5Price: $55.00

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